activismhttp://ripr.org
enhttp://ripr.org/feeds/term/470/rss.xmlBlock Condemns Legislative Grants; Mattiello Defends Themhttp://ripr.org/post/block-condemns-legislative-grants-mattiello-defends-them
<p></p><p>Former gubernatorial candidate Ken Block is calling on Governor Gina Raimondo to ask the state Supreme Court for an opinion on the constitutionality of legislative grants.</p><p>Tue, 19 Apr 2016 18:44:33 +0000Ian Donnis66336 at http://ripr.orgBlock Condemns Legislative Grants; Mattiello Defends ThemTGIF: 18 Things To Know About Rhode Island Politics & Mediahttp://ripr.org/post/tgif-18-things-know-about-rhode-island-politics-media-30
<p></p><p>Thanks for stopping by for my weekly column. As usual, your tips and comments are welcome, and you can follow me through the week <a href="https://twitter.com/IanDon">on the twitters</a>. Here we go.</p>Fri, 11 Mar 2016 21:27:39 +0000Ian Donnis64527 at http://ripr.orgTGIF: 18 Things To Know About Rhode Island Politics & MediaRhode Island Taxpayers Group Ceasing Operationshttp://ripr.org/post/rhode-island-taxpayers-group-ceasing-operations
<p>A conservative-leaning citizens group, <a href="https://twitter.com/ritaxpayers">Rhode Island Taxpayers</a>, is disbanding due to a lack of financial support.</p><p>RI Taxpayers began 12 years ago as the Rhode Island Statewide Coalition. It had also been known early on as the Rhode Island Shoreline Coalition.</p><p>In a statement, Rhode Island Taxpayers said the group was founded with the idea of raising the voice of citizens in state issues. The organization has pursued that in part with a web site and by using a daily email bulletin to distribute news stories.</p>Tue, 08 Mar 2016 17:34:04 +0000Ian Donnis64420 at http://ripr.orgRhode Island Taxpayers Group Ceasing OperationsTGIF: 19 Things to Know About Rhode Island Politics & Mediahttp://ripr.org/post/tgif-19-things-know-about-rhode-island-politics-media-15
<p></p><p>The leaves are falling, and fight over truck tolls remains hot and heavy. So thanks for stopping by for my weekend roundup. As always, your tips and feedback are welcome via<a href="mailto:idonnis@ripr.org?subject=TGIF"> my email</a> and you can follow me all week long <a href="https://twitter.com/IanDon">on the twitters</a>. Here we go.</p>Fri, 09 Oct 2015 21:15:06 +0000Ian Donnis57812 at http://ripr.orgTGIF: 19 Things to Know About Rhode Island Politics & MediaRhode Island Working Families Hires Chris Torres as State Directorhttp://ripr.org/post/rhode-island-working-families-hires-chris-torres-state-director
<p></p><p>Rhode Island Working Families, the new progressive/labor advocacy group, has hired Chris Torres, an experienced organizer with past Ocean State experience, as its state director. Torres is slated to formally start his new job November 15.</p>Thu, 08 Oct 2015 20:19:32 +0000Ian Donnis57798 at http://ripr.orgRhode Island Working Families Hires Chris Torres as State DirectorSupporters, Opponents Square Off On Raising RI's $2.89 Sub-Minimum Wagehttp://ripr.org/post/supporters-opponents-square-raising-ris-289-sub-minimum-wage
<p></p><p>A new coalition held a Statehouse news conference Thursday to press for an increase in the state’s $2.89 sub-minimum wage. Supporters call this a matter of fairness, since the sub-minimum wage hasn’t changed in 20 years. But the restaurant industry says higher wages would lead to higher food prices.</p><p></p>Thu, 19 Mar 2015 22:06:29 +0000Ian Donnis48174 at http://ripr.orgSupporters, Opponents Square Off On Raising RI's $2.89 Sub-Minimum WageMeet the Class of 2015: State Representative Aaron Regunberghttp://ripr.org/post/meet-class-2015-state-representative-aaron-regunberg
<p></p><p>With 18 new members in the 113-seat General Assembly, On Politics is offering a periodic look at the latest additions to the House and Senate. We continue with Representative Aaron Regunberg (D-Providence), who used his activist background to catapult into the seat previously held by former Speaker Gordon Fox.</p><p><strong>Age:</strong> 24</p><p><strong>Occupation:</strong> organizer with the Providence Student Union.</p><p><strong>Party:</strong> Democrat</p>Wed, 21 Jan 2015 00:40:57 +0000Ian Donnis45383 at http://ripr.orgMeet the Class of 2015: State Representative Aaron RegunbergBrown Alum Galland On MoveOn's Push to Draft Elizabeth Warren for Presidential Runhttp://ripr.org/post/brown-alum-galland-moveons-push-draft-elizabeth-warren-presidential-run
<p></p>Wed, 14 Jan 2015 19:03:34 +0000Ian Donnis45084 at http://ripr.orgBrown Alum Galland On MoveOn's Push to Draft Elizabeth Warren for Presidential RunAlmost 15 Years After Cornel Young Jr.'s Death, How Much Has Changed in Rhode Island?http://ripr.org/post/almost-15-years-after-cornel-young-jrs-death-how-much-has-changed-rhode-island
<p></p><p>Recent grand jury decisions in Ferguson, Missouri, and Staten Island, New York, have sparked a national focus on police-community relations. At issue is a number of cases in which unarmed black men have been killed during encounters with white police officers. Rhode Island hasn’t seen this much concern about police-community relations since a black police officer was killed in a friendly-fire incident almost 15 years ago. So how much things have changed?</p>Thu, 11 Dec 2014 12:11:00 +0000Ian Donnis43473 at http://ripr.orgAlmost 15 Years After Cornel Young Jr.'s Death, How Much Has Changed in Rhode Island?Students and Activists Shut Down Lecuture At Brown Universityhttp://ripr.org/post/students-and-activists-shut-down-lecuture-brown-university
<p>More than 100 Student and community protestors shut down a lecture by New York City police commissioner Ray Kelly at Brown University yesterday afternoon.</p><p></p><p>Mario Vega, a Brown student, says he was there to protest the way NYC police have monitored Muslim residents since 9/11.</p><p>“I think Ray Kelly’s policies are completely racist and Islamiphobic, and I completely do not support how Brown is paying him to come here and unilaterally impose his doctrine on the people of the University.&nbsp; That gives the impression that we support it and we don’t," said Vega.</p>Wed, 30 Oct 2013 13:34:35 +0000John Bender24000 at http://ripr.orgStudents and Activists Shut Down Lecuture At Brown UniversityRay Sullivan Joining Checkmate Consulting As a Partnerhttp://ripr.org/post/ray-sullivan-joining-checkmate-consulting-partner
<p></p><p><a href="https://twitter.com/RaySullivan">Ray Sullivan</a>, who led Rhode Island United's successful campaign this year to<a href="http://ripr.org/post/after-16-year-fight-rhode-island-legalizes-same-sex-marriage"> legalize same-sex marriage</a>, is joining <a href="http://checkmatecg.com/">Checkmate Consulting Group</a>, Brad Dufault's advertising, marketing and PR shop, as a partner.</p>Wed, 28 Aug 2013 16:25:17 +0000Ian Donnis20770 at http://ripr.orgRay Sullivan Joining Checkmate Consulting As a PartnerPolitical Roundtable: Paiva Weed Says the RI Senate Passed Same-Sex Marriage Due to Public Supporthttp://ripr.org/post/political-roundtable-paiva-weed-says-ri-senate-passed-same-sex-marriage-due-public-support
<p>State Senate President Teresa Paiva Weed joins the Political Roundtable this week to discuss legislative attempts to improve Rhode Island's economy; the search for a new state commissioner of higher education; and why the Senate voted in April to legalize same-sex marriage.</p><p></p>Fri, 02 Aug 2013 13:27:04 +0000Ian Donnis19364 at http://ripr.orgPolitical Roundtable: Paiva Weed Says the RI Senate Passed Same-Sex Marriage Due to Public SupportPaiva Weed Says the RI Senate Passed Same-Sex Marriage Due to Growing Public Supporthttp://ripr.org/post/paiva-weed-says-ri-senate-passed-same-sex-marriage-due-growing-public-support
<p></p><p>When the Rhode Island Senate made history by approving same-sex marriage legislation in April, more than a few close observers (<a href="http://www.ripr.org/post/political-reality-how-ri-senate-lost-its-status-bermuda-triangle-same-sex-marriage">including me</a>) saw it as a matter -- in part -- of Senate President Teresa Paiva Weed preserving her leadership. The thinking was that if same-sex marriage was defeated again (in a battle that started in 1997), SSM supporters would aggressively target legislative opponents at the polls next year.</p>Thu, 01 Aug 2013 19:06:33 +0000Ian Donnis19376 at http://ripr.orgPaiva Weed Says the RI Senate Passed Same-Sex Marriage Due to Growing Public SupportYoung Volunteers Could Loom Large in the Expected Taveras-Raimondo Primary in 2014http://ripr.org/post/young-volunteers-could-loom-large-expected-taveras-raimondo-primary-2014
<p>The sophisticated<a href="http://ripr.org/post/ris-grassroots-fight-and-against-same-sex-marriage"> grassroots campaign in support of same-sex marriage </a>offers a tangible reminder of the value of field work makes in Rhode Island politics. So as we move closer to an expected Democratic gubernatorial clash between Angel Taveras and Gina Raimondo next year, keep an eye on their level of outreach to young political activists.Thu, 23 May 2013 20:31:44 +0000Ian Donnis15728 at http://ripr.orgDriscoll heading to new gig, with Organizing for Actionhttp://ripr.org/post/driscoll-heading-new-gig-organizing-action
<p></p><p><a href="https://twitter.com/short_pants">Devin Driscoll</a>, communications head for Rhode Islanders United for Marriage -- which led<a href="http://ripr.org/post/ris-grassroots-fight-and-against-same-sex-marriage"> the grassroots campaign to legalize same-sex marriage</a> -- is heading to a new job, as the Chicago-based Northeast regional director for <a href="https://my.barackobama.com/page/s/organizing-for-action">Organizing for Action</a>, the Democratic effort formerly known as Obama for America.</p>Mon, 06 May 2013 13:48:09 +0000Ian Donnis14722 at http://ripr.orgDriscoll heading to new gig, with Organizing for Action